Joint for telegraphic wires



(No Model.) I v D, P. EMMINGER.

, JOINT FOR TELEGRAPHIG WIRES. No. 369,238. Patented Aug. 30, 1887.

N, P'Erms mwmmgn w. Wilhinglnll. no

UN TED STATES PATENT FFICE.

DAVID P. EMMINGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

JOINT FOR TELEGRAPHIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o.369,238, dated August30,1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID P. EMMINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inJoints for Telegraphic \Vires, &c.; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

This invention has relation to joint-connections for telegraphic andother electric conducting wires, and has for its object the provision ofa novel form of clamp of a comparatively inexpensive character, whichmay be easily and quickly. applied to the joint, and which shallconstitute a strong, durable, and efficient coupling, requiring neithersolder nor brazing and possessing all the necessary conductingproperties.

The joints orjoint-couplings now in use for telegraphic lines aregenerall y formed by twisting the wires upon each other and applyingsolder to the connection. It is found that such a joint'is not only weakand incapable of withstanding strain, but that corrosion of the metalquickly ensues the formation of thejoint, thus impairing theconductivity of the wires either by interposition of resistance or thegeneration of local currents.

Myinvention is designed to obviate the principal defects in theso-called Western Union joint, above referred to, as well as in otherjoints and connections which have been suggested and experimentallytried.

My invention consists in the novel construction of clamp, hereinafterdescribed, and in the combination of the same with the wires to which itis applicable. In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the clamp applied to a joint. same. Fig. 3 is' avertical longitudinal section of joint and clamp. Fig. dis an end viewof my invention, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form ofjoint.

A designates the body of the clamp, and B a fastening wedge or key.These are made of any suitable metal, and for actual use of variousmetals-such as copper for copper wires,

iron for iron wires, &e.and are to be manu- Fig. 2 is a plan view of thewalls of the channel a are made converging lengthwise, and aredovetailed in cross-section for the reception and retention of the wedgeor key B. On the upper side of the part or box A the sides are connectedby transverse bars 0 0, located at any desired distance apart orrelation to each other and to the ends of the box, and the key or wedgepasses under them, being inserted from or through the wide end of thechannel.

If desired, the part A may be in the form of a tube-that is, with thetop of the channel entirely covered, instead of being merely crossed atintervals by the bars 0 c; or, instead of having the top of the troughcovered or crossed by braces, the top may be left entirely open; but Iprefer to have braces or a cover, as they lend strength and security tothe device and prevent the walls of the part A from being spread apart.

The box A and the key-section B have each ahole pierced through them, asshown at d cl, and, if desired, are re-enforced or thickened at thepoints through which the holes extend, the thickened portions formingbosses e 6. These holes are located, respectively, on op posite sides ofa central longitudinal line, and are intended for the reception of thebent extremities of the wires.

In coupling two wires their ends are first bent respectively at rightangles to the body of the wires, after which one wire is laid in thechanneled portion of the box A and the bentportion f passed throughthehole d,while the bent end f of the other wire is passed through thehole d of the key B, the parts A and B being disconnected. The key 13 isnow inserted in the box A and driven tightly home, thus securing the twowires in place and providing a rigid and perfectly-conductingconnection, which will withstand the utmost strain which the wiresthemselves will bear.

I use no solder, brazing, or other supplementary means for producing aclose and unyielding joint, as the clamp is sufficient in itself and isnot subject to corrosion. XVhen desired, the clamp may be galvanized,plated, or otherwise provided with a protecting-coating.

\Vhile I have shown the wires having their bent ends inserted throughholes, I do not limit myself to this arrangement, as the bent portionsmay be left outside at either end of the clamp, simply abutting againstthe ends, as shownin Fig. 5, and in some cases the wires will not needto be bent at all, but will be simply laid in the channel or part A andfastened by the pressure of the key B.

To afford the wires an additional hold the base of the channel should beroughened, toothed, or milled.

To disconnect the wires all that is required is to simply withdraw thewedge, which can be loosened by a blow from a hammer, and take out thewires.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 15

1. A connecting-clamp for telegraphic wires or other electricalconductors, consisting of the trough-shaped or channeled box A, withlongitudinally-open top having Converging walls, and the wedge-shapedkey 13, substantially as described.

2. In aclamp for connecting telegraph-wires, the combination of thelongitudinallychanneled box or trough A, having longitudinallytaperingopening with dovetailed surfaces, and the tapering dovetailed key 13,substantially as set forth.

3. In a connecting-clamp for telegraphic wires or electrical conductors,the combination ofthe longitudinally channeled section A, havinglongitndinally-tapering opening, and the key B, said section and keybeing pierced transversely for the passage of the bent ends of the wire,substantially as shown and described.

4. A clamp for connecting telegraphic wires or electrical conductors,consisting of the sec tion A and key B, the section A having alongitudinal channel roughened,milled,or toothed at its base, as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this5th day of May, 1887.

DAVID I. EMMINGER.

Witnesses:

THos. A. CONNOLLY, R. DALE SIARIIAWK.

